Programs in Action

The clever children’s librarians at the West Haven Public Library, in West Haven, Conn., have decided that Fido needs feeding, and the best way to do it is with a bit of juicy reading.

Children’s Librarian Bernadette Niedermeier came up with the idea to paint a super-size dog face on a cardboard box — about half the size of a refrigerator box — complete with an open mouth just waiting for treats. When a child reads for 15 minutes, he or she can take a paper “biscuit” and "feed" it to the dog.

A chorus of Mutt-i-grees kudos to Lori Hernesh, Children's Program Coordinator at Herr Memorial Library, in Mifflinburg, Penn.

Lori’s enthusiasm for the Curriculum turned into a day of fun for two first grade classes at the Mifflinburg Elementary School. After briefly explaining Mutt-i-grees, Lori read “May I Pet Your Dog?” by Stephanie Calmenson, and then set about demonstrating the safe and proper way to meet, greet, and treat a dog, using a realistic plush pup as a stand-in.

For the third year in a row, The Smithtown Library in Smithtown, NY hosted a Mutt-i-grees Pet Parade for its patrons to highlight the unique characteristics of animals in their community. The event was well-attended and each family was celebrated as their pet’s name was introduced and announced to the audience. All the pets involved proudly marched around the parade route and families were so excited to show off their furry friends. Shakespeare, the library's resident plush Mutt-i-gree, joined in on the fun, too, of course!

Who doesn’t love a cup of tea and a biscuit as you settle into your favorite novel? At Russell Library in Middletown, CT, librarians have created book talk videos featuring some of the books from our recommended reading list as part of their Tween Tech Soup blog (you can check it out here). The short videos are part of the library’s Nutmeg and Cookies series, which provide clips of literature, along with a recipe that complements the book discussed.

Elizabeth Freese is a volunteer with Operation Paws for Homes (OPH), an all-breed rescue groups in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which partners with local libraries throughout the area to hold Mutt-i-grees® Story Times.

The Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum is an innovative PreK-12 curriculum that developscalm, confident, caring kids and creates a more humane future for all throughsocial and emotional learning. An initiative of North Shore Animal League America’sprogram development branch, The Pet Savers Foundation™, Inc., the Curriculumwas developed by Yale University's School of the 21st Century.